Williams had a game-high 22 points — all in the second half and overtime. The sophomore took over in OT, scoring eight points to lead the Vols (3-0) to a marquee win. His short jumper with 14 seconds left gave the Vols a 76-75 lead.

Lamonte Turner sent the game to overtime with a corner 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds to play.

The Vols fell behind quickly in overtime, as Purdue's Dakota Mathias scored seven straight points. Down five, Williams took over for the Vols. He put back his own miss and hit a short turnaround jumper to cut the Purdue lead to one. Williams then split a double team with a pass to an open Kyle Alexander for a dunk, then made the game-winning basket out of a timeout.

The Vols got a crucial stop, Admiral Schofield grabbed the rebound and James Daniel III sealed the win with a pair of free throws.

Tennessee guard James Daniell III (3) tries to find an open teammate during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10) attempts a shot past High Point center Sam Berlin (33) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes speaks to Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee guard Jordan Bone (0) looks to pass the ball past High Point guard Brandonn Kamga (1) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee forward Grant Williams (2) attempts a shot past High Point guard Ricky Madison (25) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee guard James Daniell III (3) drives down the court during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee guard Lamonte Turner (1) attempts a shot past High Point guard Jamal White (3) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Tennessee forward Admiral Schofield (5) attempts a shot past High Point forward Jordan Whitehead (34) during Tennessee's home basketball game against High Point at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017.
BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINEL

Alexander recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, keying Tennessee's efforts against a large Purdue (4-1) team. The Vols outrebounded the Boilermakers 50-41 with 20 offensive rebounds.

Turner scored 17 points, 12 of which came in the first half when the game almost got away from the Vols.

The Vols trailed 27-16 after missing 10 straight shots in a five-minute span in the first half.

Turner ended the drought with a hard-nosed drive for a three-point play. He drew a charge on the defensive end then hit a 3-pointer. Purdue scored four straight before Turner knocked down an NBA-range 3-pointer to set off a 9-0 run in the final 3:01 of the half.

Tennessee closed the first half on a game-tying 15-4 run, which Schofield emphatically capped with a one-handed dunk with a second left.

Tennessee took its first lead on Williams’ first basket — a corner 3-pointer sparked by Alexander’s hustle — to open the second half. Alexander tipped in a miss and Jordan Bowden drove for an easy layup to open the second half on a 7-0 run, building to a 16-0 run spanning both halves.

The Vols held the lead through much of the second half, but did not have a point for 4:18 until Turner splashed a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left.

Pons plays

Vols coach Rick Barnes was concerned about Yves Pons’ injured ankle when he met with the media Monday. But the freshman forward played one minute against the Boilermakers.

Up next

Tennessee faces No. 3 Villanova at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

A video taken by Twitter user @TFam_1 appears to show police throwing a man to the ground at a UT men's basketball game against Mercer in Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday evening. Few details about the incident are available.
Submitted / Tyler Fambrough